While on a recent walk through the orchard I came upon my one and only pear tree. I started looking very closely, wondering "where are the pears?" I scoured the ground and the branches ~ not one could be found! As you can see by the photo there was no lack of them the very last time I looked. I had put some pelletized lime underneath the branches to balance the ph of the acidic soil. The tree was very responsive! There were 30-40 pears, and I was planning on a bountiful harvest. Well…. there was a harvest, but not by me. I was able to locate one overlooked pear, and that was the end of it. The deer in the area are better fed for it and fortunately the tree was no worse for wear. This time, it was first come, first served!